2024 Farmer of the Year

LESLIE TURNER 

Leslie Turner, 2024 Farmer of the Year

Leslie Turner, a fourth-generation rice farmer, was born on June 6, 1948, to Lucille (Ransom) and Ed Turner. He grew up on the farm learning about rice and how to grow it from his dad and grandpa Arthur. From the time he could reach the pedals and use a shovel, he worked weekends and summers on the farm. After graduating from Anahuac High School, he attended Sam Houston State University and then Southwest Texas State where he received a B.S. degree in Agriculture. He married Lynn Dell (Tunze) in 1969 and began farming on his own in 1973 in Anahuac. They raised three children, Kate (Ickes), Jill(Sklar), and Rhett (who now also farms). When farming got really tough in the 90’s that Ag degree came in very handy, and he taught Ag at AHS for 16 years but continued to farm as well. He has also proudly served on the board of American Rice Growers, Anahuac Division, for 43 years and is currently serving as President.

Leslie acknowledges that farming has changed with the advances in technology and agronomy. The physical labor (daylight to dark) is not as strenuous, however, the day-to-day challenges of weather, the market, politics, the economy and now the ever so present threat of hogs! He states, “I’ve probably have farmed longer than I should have, but it’s hard to quit something you love so much. And that’s why I put in my 51st crop this year! Thank you, Texas Rice Festival Nominating Committee for the honor of being named“Farmer of the Year.”